This Friday (15 June) Oxford plays host to a one-off special gig to hybrid rockers Maximo Park as part of the 2007 Vodafone TBA exclusive gig promotion. The Newcastle born band will follow Amy Winehouse’s stunning debutant display at Bristol’s famous St. Paul’s Church in Circomedia and continue the 2006 success created by Franz Ferdinand, Snow Patrol and Razorlight.

This special intimate gig will comprise of 200 lucky individuals in an unknown space within Oxford, with the location not being revealed until the day of the gig, stressing the events intriguing secrecy and exclusivity.  After a recent UK sell-out tour by the Park, a privileged crowd will be excited by the prospect of hearing the band’s trademark taut, exhausting and energetic performances. 

The quintet consisting of members; Paul Smith (lead singer), Duncan Lloyd (guitarist), Archis Tiku (bassist), Tom English (drummer) and Lukas Wooller (keyboardist), were formed in 2001.  Newcastle’s first major musical international export broke through with their debut album, A Certain Trigger, released in 2005. Notching up four successive Top 20 hits (Apply Some Pressure, Going Missing, Graffiti and I Want You to Stay) the band was an instant success resulting in a Mercury Award nomination. Their rapidly increasing popularity has already seen their new album - Our Earthly Pleasures - reach No. 2 in the UK charts with the first single - Our Velocity - reaching the Top 10.

With diverse musical compositions ranging from sharp, electric garage rock to melancholic subtle tones, this is a gig that promises to be very special, in more ways than one.